Emergency release for a lock set



y June 11, 1957 A. scHoEPE EMERGENCY RELEASE FOR A LOCK SET Filed Nov. 25, 1953 NVENTOR. @00L/f cHoem-z BY i 7p I A TTORNEY.

United States Patent EMERGENCY RELEASE FoR A LOCK SET Adolf Schoepe, Fullerton, Calif., assignor to Kwikset gsoclrs, Inc., Anaheim, Calif., a corporation of Caliorma pplication November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,714

5 Claims. (Cl. 70--465) This invention relates to an emergency release for a lock set and, more particularly, to an emergency release for a lock set of the character customarily utilized in bathrooms wherein the lock set is lockable from the interior side of the bathroom door and is not normally releasable from the exterior of said door.

However, such lock sets customarily include emergency release means which permit the release of the locking mechanism of the lock set from the exterior of the door so that access may be had to the bathroom in emergency situations such as when a child locks itself in the bathroom or an individual in the bathroom becomes incapable of releasing the lock set after he has locked it.

In conventional lock sets of the character under consideration, the emergency release utilized is actuable from aninoperative to a released position and it frequently happens that, after the emergency release of the lock set has been accomplished, and the door of the bathroom opened, the return of the emergency release to its original inoperative position will be neglected so that the lock set cannot be locked from the interior of the bathroom door. Since this inoperative condition of the lock set is not apparent to an individual utilizing the same, the bathroom door will remain unlocked with resultant possible embarrassment to the occupant of the bathroom.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an emergency release for a lock set of the aforementioned character which is movable from an inoperative to an operative position to accomplish the emergency release of the lock set and which, after said emergency release has been accomplished, will automatically revert to its original position to render the lock set operative once again. Therefore, there is no possibility of the permanent release of the locking mechanism of the lock set and the lock set is returned to its normal operating condition immediately upon the automatic return of the emergency release to its inoperative position.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of an emergency release of the aforementioned character which is disposable in operative relationship with the exterior knob and spindle of the lock set and which includes an emergency release button having an emergency release torque blade associated therewith operatively engageable with the mechanism of the lock set so that when said emergency release button is rotated by appropriate means, the concomitant rotation of the blade will cause the momentary release of the lock set. However, when the release button has accomplished the momentary release of the locking mechanism of the lock set and is itself released, means for returning the release button and its associated release blade becomes operative to return said button and said blade to their original inoperative positions to permit the locking mechanism of theA lock set to be effective upon further utilization thereof.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an emergency release mechanism of the aforementioned character in which the means for returning the release button and its associated blade to theiry original inoperative fiarice positions is constituted by a torsion spring, said torsion spring being engageable with the button and blade assembly to return the blade and button assembly to its original inoperative position after the emergency release of the lock set has been accomplished.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a release mechanism of the aforementioned character Which is disposable in operative relationship with an exterior knob and the tubular mounting spindle therefor, said knob being provided with a centrally located opening registerable with the bore in said tubular spindle and said opening being adapted to receive the release button which is biased into said opening by the compressive action of the aforementioned torsion spring.

An additional object of my invention is the provision of an emergency release mechanism of the aforementioned character in which the knob mounting spindle is provided with motion-limiting means engageable with the aforesaid release button to limit the rotation thereo within said spindle.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specification and the ac` companying drawing which is for the purpose of illustration only and in which:

Fig. l is a rear elevational View of an exterior knob assembly incorporating the release mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. l;

FigA 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the release button incorporated in the release mechanism of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a diametric View of the releasing torque blade incorporated in the release mechanism of my invention.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. l-2` thereof, l show an exterior knob assembly 10 adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a lock set, not shown, of the character generally incorporated in. a bathroom or other location wherein it is desired to lock the lock set from the interior of the door in which it is mounted and to normally prevent operation of the lock set from the exterior of the `door when the lock set is locked.

Mounted in operative relationship with the exterior knob assembly 1i) is an emergency release assembly, indicated generally at 12, accessible from the exteriorof the door to permit emergency release of the lock set associated therewith when emergency conditions arise which necessitate the release of the lock set from the exterior of the door.

The exterior knob assembly 10 includes an exterior rosette plate 14 which is securable to the exterior of the door with which the exterior knob assembly 10 is associated and which has a centrally located opening 15 therein. Mounted in overlying relationship w-ith the exterior rosette plate 14 is an exterior rosette 16, said rosette having a centrally located opening 17 therein axially aligned with the opening `15 provided inthe rosette plate 14.

ADisposed Iin operative relationship with the rosette pla-te r 14y and the exterior rosette 16 is an elongated tubular spindle 20 which extends through the axially aligned openings 15 and 17 and is rotatable therein. The tubular spindle 2t) is provided adjacent its innermost end with,

rosette plate 14 and the clip 24 to retain the elongated spindle 20 in operative relationship with the plate d4.

The elongated spindle 20 is provided with an elongated slot -27 extending from one end to the other thereof and there is mounted upon said spindle an exterior, one-piece knob 30, the shank 31 of -said knob being secured to said spindle intermediate its ends. The exterior knob 30 is provided with a centrally located opening 33 registered with the` end of the bore of the elongated Itubular spindle 20. The outermost portion of ysaid spindle has a pair of oppositely disposed, inwardly directed prongs 34 formed therein, said prongs serving as stop and retaining means 35 fortan emergency release button 36 incorporated in the emergency release assembly 12 and extending through the centrally located opening 33 in the exterior knob 30.

The emergency release button 36 is, as best shown in Fig. of the drawing, constituted by a substantially shallow, cup-shaped member, the skirt 3-7 of which has -integral, oppositely oriented extensions 38 provided thereupon, said extensions being engageable with the stop and retaining means 3S of the elongated tubular spindle 20 to limit rotation of the emergency release button 36 within the end of said spindle.

The emergency release button 36 is restrained from inward, axial movement within the spindle 20 out of engagement with the opening 33 in the exterior knob 30 because of Athe engagement of the edge of the skirt 37 thereof with the stop and retaining means 3S provided in the `spindle 20, as `best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing wherein said retaining lmeans 35 is shown as engaging the edge of the skirt 37, thus locating the emergency release button 36 in the outermost end portion of the spindle 20 and xin operative relationship with the opening 33 in the exterior knob 30.

The emergency release button 36 incorporates a centrally located outstruck cylindrical portion 39 which is of substantially the same diameter as the opening 33 in the knob 30 and which extends therethrough so that an elongated slot 41 in said cylindrical port-ion may be engaged by a screwdriver or a makeshift implement, such as the end of a nail file, to accomplish the rotation of the emergency release button 36 in the end of the spindle 20. The emergency release button 36 is also provided with securement openings 43 formed in the end wall 44 of said button.

Disposed in operative relationship with the emergency release button 36 is a releasing torque 'blade 46, said blade including an elongated shank 47 having a head 49 formed integrally therewith, said shank extending axially of the elongated tubular spindle `20 and said head being snugly received within the skirt 37 of the emergency release button 36. The head 49 is provided with oppositely oriented, outwardly extending lugs 51 which extend through the securement openings 43 provided in the` end wall 44 of the emergency release butt-on 36 and which are bent over into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing to securely fasten the head 49 of the release torque Iblade 46 to the emergency release button 36. Therefore, when the emergency release button is rotated from an inoperative position into a position in which it will release the lock set associated therewith, it causes the concomitant rota-tion of the releasing torque blade 46 to release the `locked lock set.

Disposed within the boreprovided by the elongated exterior spindle '20 is a means 54 for automatically relturning the emergency release assembly 12 to its inoperative position after said emergency release assembly 12 has been rotated within the spindle` 20 to accomplish the emergency release of a locked lock set associated therewith. The means 54 is constitu-ted by an elongated, spiral torsion spring 55,` the outermost end 57 of which isdisposed in overlying relationship with the outermost end of the shank 47 ofthe blade 46, as best shown, in Figs. 1-3 of the drawing, while the innermost end 59 thereof is 4 disposed in the slot 27 provided in the elongated tubular spindle 20.

The outermost end 57 of the spring S5 is biased against fthe underside of the head 49 of the blade 46 and serves as a compression spring to urge the emergency release button 36 into engagementwith the opening 33 in the exterior knob 30.

Therefore, when the emergency release button 36 is rotated within the outermost end of the elongated tubular spindle 20 from a first inoperative position into a second releasing position in which it causes concomitant rotation of said releasing blade 46 from said tirst to said second A positions, a torsional load is imposed upon the torsion spring 55. Therefore, immediately upon release of the emergency release button 36 after the lock set has been unlocked, Athe torsion spring 55 will cause the rotation of i the blade 46 because of the engagement of the outermost Y end 57 thereof with said blade from the second releasing 7 been actuated in the above described manner, there is no possibility of its being inadvertently left in the second operative position so that the lock set associated therewith -will not be inadvertently lett unlocked despite the attempts of an occupant of the bathroom to lock the same.

Another aspect of the emergency release construction of my invention is the relative simplicity thereof and the minimal number of parts constituting the same. For instance, the tubular spindle 20 is utilized as a mounting for the emergency release assembly 12 and also serves to retain said assembly in operative position within the bore of said spindle by the provision of the integral stop and retaining means. Thus, when the emergency release button 36 is rotated in the Vbore of the elongated tubular spindle 20, the integral extensions 33 of the skirt 37 of the i emergency release button will ultimately engage the oppositely disposed prongs 34 constituting the stop andretaining means 35 to prevent rotation of the emergency release button 36 beyond the stop and retaining means 35. In addition, the stop and retaining means 35 also serve to prevent axial movement of the button inwardly in the bore of the elongated tubular spindle 20 by their engagement with the edge of the skirt 37 of the emergency release button l36.

The skirt 37 of the emergency release button 36 is in bearing contact with the interior wall of the outermost portion of the elongated tubular spindle 20 and can be easily rotated therein, whilethe provision of the elongated slot 27 in the elongated tubular spindle 20 restrains the innermost end 59 of the torsion spring 55 so that, when the spring 55 is subjected to torsion by the rotation of the emergency release assembly 12, rotationof the innermost por-tion of the spring 55 is prevented by thc engagement of the innermost end 59 thereof with the clon gated slot 27 of the spindle 20.

The co-operation between the innermost end 59 of the torsion spring 55 and the interior of the one-piece knob 30 to prevent inward displacement of the torsion spring 55 is clearly shown in Fig, 2 of the drawing wherein the innermost end 59 of the spring 55 is shown as juxtaposed `to the interior wall of the knob 30 immediately adjacent the point `at which the shank 31 thereof is formed integrally therewith. The juxtaposition of the innermost end 59 of the torsion spring 55 to the inner wall of the knob 30 immediately adjacent the point at which the shank 31 of the knob is integrally formed therewith prevents :substantial axial movement of the torsion spring 55 within the bore of the tubular spindle 20 and thus maintains the outermost end 57 of the torsion spring 55 adjacent the head 49 of the blade 46 to cause said spring to bias the emergency release button 36 outwardly through the opening 33 in the knob 30.

. I thus provide by my invention an exterior knob construction incorporating anemergency release assembly which is characterized by extreme simplicity of structure and the automatic return of the emergency release assembly from its operative to inoperative positions after the emergency release of the lock set associated therewith. Furthermore, I provide means for the automatic return of said emergency release assembly constituted by a torsion :spring which also serves as a compression spring to bias the emergency release :assembly and, more particularly, the emergency release button into operative relationship with the knob of the exterior knob construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an emergency release for a bathroom lock set, the combination of: an exterior spindle adapted to be rotatable in said lock set and having an exterior knob mounted thereupon; an emergency release button rotatably mounted in said knob; a releasing torque blade connected to said button `and rotatable thereby and adapted to be operatively connected to said lock set for releasing the same, said button and torque blade being rotatable from a rst inoperative position into a :second releasing position; and a torsion spring having one end connected to said blade and its other end connected to said spindle to rotate said blade and said button from said second to said iirst position after the emergency energization of said lock set.

2. In an emergency frelease for a lock set, the combination of: a tubular spindle having Van exterior knob mounted thereupon, said knob having a centrally located opening therein registered with the bore of said spindle; a rotatable emergency release button located in said bore and projecting through said opening; a release blade connected to said button for rotation thereby; and means located in said bore and engageable with said blade for rotating said blade and said button from a release to an original position after the emergency release of said lock set.

3. lnan emergency release for a lock set, the combination of: a tubular spindle having an exterior knob mounted thereupon, said knob having a centrally located opening therein registered with the bore of said spindle; a rotatable emergency release button located in said bore and projecting through said opening; a release blade connected to said button for rotation thereby; and a torsion spring located in said bore with one end engaging said blade and its other end engaging said spindle to rotate said blade and said button from a release to an original position after emergency release of said lock set.

4. `In an emergency release for a lock set, the combination of: a tubular spindle having an exterior knob mounted thereupon, said knob having a centrally located opening therein registered with the bore of said spindle, an emergency release button rotatable in said bore and projecting through said opening, said spindle having button locating and stop means Ithereupon to limit both longitudinal and rotational movement ofv said button in said bore; -a release blade connected to said button; and means located in said bore and engageable with said blade for returning said -blade and said button from a release to an original position after the emergency release of said lock set. t

5. `In an emergency release for a lock set, the combination of: an exterior knob having a centrally located opening therein; a tubular spindle having said knob mounted thereupon and a bore registered with said opening, said spindle having an elongated slot therein and stop means adjacent said opening; a rotatable emergency release button located in said bore and projectingl through said opening, the movement of said button being limited by said stop means on said spindle; a release blade secured to said button and rotatable thereby; and a torsion spring located in said bore having one end engageable with said blade and its other end engageable With said slot in said spindle to automatically rotate said blade and button from releasing to non-releasing positions after emergency release of said lock set.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,888 Holt Aug. 16, 1921 1,880,675 Baume Oct. 4, 1932 2,193,349 Schlage Mar. 12, 1940 2,231,908 Heizman Feb. 18, 1941 2,435,238 Schlage Feb. 3, 1948 2,473,052 Cordrey et al. June 14, 1949 2,650,123 Hopgood Aug. 25, 1953 2,666,320 Teich Jan. 19, 1954 

